Anybody reformat a Dell or Gateway computer?

Redstone · 08-22-2004, 08:57 PM

My dad has a 5 year old Gateway that needs to be reformatted in the worst way. He will be getting a new rig in the next year but we need to reformat to get him by until then. Does gateway have their computers set up to keep you from reformatting?

I want to put my Win98SE on if we reformat, but I wonder if there will be conflicts with the proprietary issues that come along with a major manufacturer like Gateway. I do not know... could there may be a modem or soundcard conflict? And I heard the bios is locked but I would think that would not be a problem.

BoWevil_abx · 08-22-2004, 09:00 PM

Does the Gateway have a recovery disk or do they include a real OS and a disk with the drivers and applications? Or, is the recovery utility on a partition on the HDD?

If you are going to install your own OS, you have to identify the chipset and be able to download the necessary drivers for the LAN, sound, video, etc. Everest diagnostics might can help in that area. The free download is located at http://www.raxco.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=119.

Redstone · 08-22-2004, 09:06 PM

I can't remember but what are you trying to determine? What should I look for?
I will give my dad a call or I will look next time I am over at the parents place because he may not know by looking at the disks. (He's 70)
I think it came installed from the factory with a recovery disk.

BoWevil_abx · 08-22-2004, 09:12 PM

I just looked at the downloads available on the Gateway site and it appears that everything you need to reformat using your OS is available for download. What OS does the PC have now?

I also suggest that you follow Mr. Steveo's installation guide if it is an Intel system. You can find it here.

Dread · 08-22-2004, 09:19 PM

I've done re-formats and new O/S's on 4 Dells with no issues whatsoever.
3 of those machines are still running today. I did update the bios on 2 of them but dont know if it was really necessary. I never have done that to a Gateway tho. Ooops, looks like Boweevil found some good info for you.
Good luck!

gtirr · 08-22-2004, 11:11 PM

If he bought the Gateway new, he should have the Restoration CD that came with it. This CD and a copy of 98se with the Product key is all you should need to re-push his Gateway.
My old P-3 800 I'm using right now has been re-pushed several times up till I finally put XP on it and still works great.
If you don't have a Restoration CD, look on the back of the case for the build date and I'll check to see if I have one. I worked for Gateway about 5 years ago and was able to acquire quite a collection of these CD's. Every computer came with one and once we un-packed a system for store display, we all grabbed all the "Extras" for ourselves in the service dept.
gtirr

08-22-2004, 08:57 PM	#1
Redstone CEO Vandelay Industries Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 127	Anybody reformat a Dell or Gateway computer? My dad has a 5 year old Gateway that needs to be reformatted in the worst way. He will be getting a new rig in the next year but we need to reformat to get him by until then. Does gateway have their computers set up to keep you from reformatting? I want to put my Win98SE on if we reformat, but I wonder if there will be conflicts with the proprietary issues that come along with a major manufacturer like Gateway. I do not know... could there may be a modem or soundcard conflict? And I heard the bios is locked but I would think that would not be a problem. __________________ CPU:Intel PIV • 2.53Ghz SL6S2 HEATSINK:SWIftech MCX4000 MOBO:Asus P4P800 SE HARD DRIVE:Maxtor 60GB DiamondMax Plus 9 MEMORY:Kingston HyperX • 2x512MB • 2-3-3-6 POWER:Antec TruePower 430 CASE:Antec PLUS 1080AMG MONITER:Samsung 930B VIDEOCARD:ATI Radeon X700 Pro AGP @435:1035 • DHzer0point 0.68 O/S:MSFT WinXP Home
(Offline)

08-22-2004, 09:00 PM	#2
BoWevil_abx Non-expert Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Traveling full time Posts: 1,857	Does the Gateway have a recovery disk or do they include a real OS and a disk with the drivers and applications? Or, is the recovery utility on a partition on the HDD? If you are going to install your own OS, you have to identify the chipset and be able to download the necessary drivers for the LAN, sound, video, etc. Everest diagnostics might can help in that area. The free download is located at http://www.raxco.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=119.
(Offline)

08-22-2004, 09:06 PM	#3
Redstone CEO Vandelay Industries Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 127	I can't remember but what are you trying to determine? What should I look for? I will give my dad a call or I will look next time I am over at the parents place because he may not know by looking at the disks. (He's 70) I think it came installed from the factory with a recovery disk. __________________ CPU:Intel PIV • 2.53Ghz SL6S2 HEATSINK:SWIftech MCX4000 MOBO:Asus P4P800 SE HARD DRIVE:Maxtor 60GB DiamondMax Plus 9 MEMORY:Kingston HyperX • 2x512MB • 2-3-3-6 POWER:Antec TruePower 430 CASE:Antec PLUS 1080AMG MONITER:Samsung 930B VIDEOCARD:ATI Radeon X700 Pro AGP @435:1035 • DHzer0point 0.68 O/S:MSFT WinXP Home
(Offline)

08-22-2004, 09:12 PM	#4
BoWevil_abx Non-expert Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Traveling full time Posts: 1,857	I just looked at the downloads available on the Gateway site and it appears that everything you need to reformat using your OS is available for download. What OS does the PC have now? I also suggest that you follow Mr. Steveo's installation guide if it is an Intel system. You can find it here.
(Offline)

08-22-2004, 09:19 PM	#5
Dread Eddie would go Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,045	I've done re-formats and new O/S's on 4 Dells with no issues whatsoever. 3 of those machines are still running today. I did update the bios on 2 of them but dont know if it was really necessary. I never have done that to a Gateway tho. Ooops, looks like Boweevil found some good info for you. Good luck! __________________ P4C800-Deluxe (BIOS 1016) \| P4 2.6C SL6WS @ 3.3 \| 2*512MB Kingston HyperX 3500 (5:4) 2.5-3-3-7 \| ATI Radeon X800XL \| WD 60GB 7200 / WD 120GB 7200 8MB \| Memorex 16X DVD-Rom \| Sony DRU-530A ±R/±RW DVD Burner \| OCZ Powerstream 520 \| Thermaltake Tsunami Black \|Windows XP Pro SP1a
(Offline)

08-22-2004, 11:11 PM	#6
gtirr STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, LIVE! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 279	If he bought the Gateway new, he should have the Restoration CD that came with it. This CD and a copy of 98se with the Product key is all you should need to re-push his Gateway. My old P-3 800 I'm using right now has been re-pushed several times up till I finally put XP on it and still works great. If you don't have a Restoration CD, look on the back of the case for the build date and I'll check to see if I have one. I worked for Gateway about 5 years ago and was able to acquire quite a collection of these CD's. Every computer came with one and once we un-packed a system for store display, we all grabbed all the "Extras" for ourselves in the service dept. gtirr
(Offline)

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